clerc



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

F. L. OLERO.

GOAL MINING MACHINE.

Patented Jan. 19, 1886.

(No Model.)

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. P. L. CLERG.

GOAL MINING MACHINE.

Patented Jan. 19, 1886..

UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

FRANK L. OLERO, OF PHILIPSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE T. LEWIS, OF SAME PLACE.

COAL-MINING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,642, dated January 19,1886.

Application filed August 22, 1885. Serial No. 175,095.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK LAURENT OLERo, of Philipsbu'rg, in the county of Centre, and in the .State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ooal- Mining Machines; and I do hereby declare "that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the Figs. 4 and 5 are front elevations of two forms of picks, which are adapted for use with my apparatus; and Fig. 6 is a like View of a scraper employed for drawing the detached coal from the cut.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

In the mining of coal it is the almost universal practice to undercut the coal, and not withstanding the existence of various machines for performing such operation, it is still the general custom to do the work by hand.v When the undercutting is done by hand, the miner is forced to lie upon his side upon the floor of the mine and use a pick at arms-length, which operation, although said tool is made as light as is consistent with strength, can be continued for but a short period of time, and as but a small portion of the strength of the operator can be utilized, the work is slowly performed and at a comparatively large expense. While such are the disadvantages of hand-work, the work done has thus far proved to be more satisfactory in its character than that done by machinery, as the cutting done by hand is the result of a succession oflight blows which operate to detach the coal in pieces upon the lines of natural clearagejinstead of cutting the coal into chips in the line of the travel of the cutting tool or tools.

The design of 'my invention is to enable the cutting-action of the hand-pick to be produced by machinery; and to such end said invention consists, principally, in a coal-cutting machine in which are combined, with suitable operated mechanism, two or more bars that are provided with pick-points or cutters and (No model.)

arranged in pairs, and are adapted to reciprocate in relatively opposite directions, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

It consists, further, in a coal-cutting machine in which pick-points or cutters are secured to or upon reciprocating bars, and by means, substantially as shown, are caused to impinge upon the coal by a simultaneously forward and relatively inward motion, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

It consists, further, in a coal-cutting machine in which bars carrying pick-points or cutters, arranged in pairs, are adapted to be simultaneously moved in relatively opposite directions, and are each provided betweensaid pick -points with diagonallyarranged 7o scrapers, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown.

It consists, finally, in the construction and combination of parts, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown and described. 7 5

In the carrying of my invention into practice many forms of operating mechanism may be employed; but I preferably use that shown, in which an H-shaped frame, A, is supported by or upon ordinarycar-axles, B, and wheels 0, So and is adapted to run upon the mine-floor or upon a track composed of two rails, D, that are arranged in parallel lines in the usual manner, and are readily shiftable. Upon the center-bar of the frame A is a steam, air, or water 8 5 engine, E, preferably double, which rotates a shaft, F, that is provided with an eccentric, f, or its equivalent. From said eccentric a rod or bar, G, extends to or near the front end of said frame, where it is connected with a cross- 0 head, H, that is adapted to be reciprocated in a line parallel with the rails D, such motion being produced by the rotation of said shaft.

Secured within suitable guides at each side of the cross-head H is a cross-head, I, thatis 5 7 adapted to move within certain limits in a line having a right angle to the rails D, and is connected with said cross-head H by means of a bar, K,which extends between and is pivoted to said parts, the arrangement being such that the rearward movement of said cross-head H will operate to draw said cross-heads I inward toward each other, while the forward movement of the former will return the latter to their normal positions at the outer limits of their motion.

Pivoted at one end to each cross-head I is a bar, L, which from thence extends diagonally forward and toward the opposite side of the machine, and is connected with the opposite cross-head I by means of a bar, M, that extends between and is pivoted to the latter and to said bar L near its outer end. Each bar L is provided with a series of pickpoints or cutters, Z, that extend beyondits front edge, and have, preferably, a forward and inward rake, and have such special form as will best adapt them for use upon the coal to be out, such question being left to the judgment of the operator.

By means of the operative mechanism described a rearward movement of the main cross-head II will cause the bars L to be simultaneously moved inward in opposite directions, while at the same time their outer pickpoint carrying-ends will be carried rearward, the position of said parts being shown by the dotted lines of Fig. 3. Upon moving said cross-head II forward until the connectingbars K are in line with each other,each bar L will be moved outward to the limit of its motion in such direction, and its outer end will be simultaneously moved in a curve forward and inward, by which means each pick-point or cutter Z will have a motion that closely resembles the movement of a pick in the hands of a miner, and which is most effective in cutting or loosening the coal.

In Fig. 2 is shown a modification in the arrangement of the pickpoint bars L, in which the connecting-bars M are dispensed with, and said pick-point bars Lare pivoted together at the point where they cross each other. By this arrangement is secured substantially the same movement of the pick-points Z as in that before described, and which is preferably used.

The carriage or frame which supports the operative mechanism is, by any suitable means, fed forward during or after eachimpingement of the pickpoints upon the coal, such forward motion being continued until the desired depth from the face or breast of the working is reached.

In order that the pieces of coal may be removed from the out, so as to prevent interference with the free movement of the pickpoints, I preferably secure to each bar L, midway between each pair of pick-points Z, a scraper, N, which, as seen in Fig. 6, consists of a blade that is provided with a sleeve, 11, which is adapted to fit upon or around said bar. Said sleeve is arranged with relation to said scraper-blade, so that the latter, when in position, occupies a line that is oblique to the longitudinal axis of said bar. In operation the scrapers will pass behind the pieces of coal as the pick-point bars move forward and inward, and upon the rearward movement of said bars will engage with and move said detached coal in the same direction.

In Figs. 4 and 5 are shown in front elevation two forms of pick-points or cutters which may be advantageously employed in some kinds of coal.

The coal removed by this apparatus is in the form of pieces of varying sizes, instead of being in shavings or small chips, as has heretofore been the case when machines were employed, and the work is done with great rapidity as compared with that accomplished by other means. As the alternate movements of the pickpoint or eutterbars are in opposite directions, they counterbalance each other and substantially prevent all oscillation of the machine and the consequent strain upon its parts, which would otherwise take place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a coal-cutting machine, in combination with two reciprocating blocks or heads, a swinging bar provided with pick-points or cutters pivoted to one of the blocks or heads and a pivotal swinging connection between the other block and the bar, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a coal-cutting machine,in combination with a suitable carriage or support, the two swinging pick-bars moving in opposite directions, the two reciprocating heads or blocks, each pivotally connected with one of the bars, and the links connecting each block with the bar pivoted to the other block, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In combination with aswinging pick-bar, one or more inclined scrapers adapted to engage and remove, as the bar swings back, the material loosened and broken by the pick point or points, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4.. In a coal-cutting machine, in combination with a swinging pick-bar provided with picks or cutters on its forward side, the two blocks reciprocating in opposite directions, pivotally connected with the inner end of the bar, and a link connecting the outer portion of the bar with the outer block, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a coal-cutting machine, in combination with the two bars armed on their forward sides with pick-points or cutters, the two sliding blocks I I, each pivotally connected with the inner end of one of the bars, and the two links,each connecting the outer end of one of the bars with the block to which the inner end of the other bar is pivoted, and means for reciprocating the blocks simultaneously in opposite directions, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In combination with the reciprocating block or cross-head H and the two reciproeating blocks I I, the links connecting such blocks with the cross-head, the cutter or pick carrying bars,each pivoted to one of the blocks, and the links, each connecting the outer portion of one of the cutter-bars with the block to which the other bar is pivoted, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a coal-cutting machine, in combina- 10 ing blocks, and links M M, each connecting one of the bars with the block to which the other bar is pivoted, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of r 5 August, A. D. 1885.

F. L. CLERG. Witnesses:

GEO. S. PRINDLE, HENRY O. HAZARD.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 334,642.

It is hereby certified that the residence of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 334,642, granted January 19,1886, upon the application of Frank S. Clerc, of Philipsburg'h,

Pennsylvania, for an improvement in Coal-Mining Machines, should have been written and printed Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, instead of same place; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Offiee.

Signed, countersig'ned, and sealed this 26th dn-y of January, A. D. 1886.

. [SEAL] H. L. MULDROW,

Acting Secretary of the Interior.

Gountersi gned M. V. MONTGOMERY,

Commissioner of Patents. 

